Flash floods in Jammu; Capital reels under soaring mercury

New Delhi: Heavy rainfall was today
experienced in Jammu and Kashmir throwing normal life out of
gear while soaring mercury coupled with high humidity made
life difficult for people in some parts of the northern belt
including the national capital.

Many parts of Jammu and Kashmir received downpour that
triggered flash floods, damaging several houses and inundating
low-lying areas, as authorities sounded a high alert. While
over 330 families were shifted to safer localities in Kistwar
district, nearly 250 houses were damaged in Jammu. Chenab and
Tawi rivers are flowing above the danger mark.

Meanwhile, mercury further rose in the national capital
where high humidity added to the woes of Delhiites. The
maximum in the city stood at 37.6 deg C, four notches above
normal, while the minimum too rose by nearly two notches to
settle at 28.4 deg C.

The city recorded no rainfall as the humidity levels
oscillated between 52 and 85 per cent.

Sultry weather conditions prevailed in Haryana and Punjab
region where Hisar endured a hot day at 38.1 deg C, three
notches above normal.

Elsewhere, Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of
35.5 deg C, up by a degree, followed by Chandigarh 35.3 deg C,
three notches above normal, and Ludhiana, which received 12.3
mm of rains, at 35.2 degrees.